Mattheis
Gustav Mattheis, son of Daniel and Caroline Mattheis, brother of Edwin (Ruth) Mattheis, Anne (Harvey) Miller, Irma (Henry) Debre and Art Mattheis, and beloved husband of June Mattheis, of Scapa, Alberta passed into eternity Sept. 29, 2015 while farming the land and loving the beauty of the Alberta fall.
Gus is survived and mourned by his beloved wife June of 46 years and his children and grandchildren. His daughter Kimberlei (Rick) Dool of Chilliwack, BC and his granddaughters Danika (13) and Shayla (10), as well as his son Tyler (Margaret) Mattheis of Milford Station, NS and his grandsons Lincoln (7), William (4) and Levi (1) are comforted in the memory of his full and vibrant life.
Gus was born in Hanna in 1942 and raised four miles west of his home of the last 50+ years. He stewarded and maintained a love of the land his father, Daniel came to in 1923.
He attended school in Scapa and proceeded to obtain his Diesel Mechanics certification from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
In 1968, Gus met his wife June and they were married on Nov. 14, 1969. Gus had great love and commitment to family – both immediate, extended and grafted.
In addition to raising Kimberlei and Tyler on the farm, taking them to various sports and school obligations, and supporting them through universities on both coasts, Gus loved the many foster children who called the farm their home for days, weeks, months or years.
The foster children were treated to the same love, responsibilities and expectations of Gus’s own children; Gus’s life was enriched by their presence in his life and they remained close to his heart and thoughts even as they moved on from the farm.
An agricultural innovator, Gus was an AI technician and applied his skills to build a purebred Charolais herd from a Hereford based herd, always holding productivity over pedigree.
Similarly, he was an avid supporter of crop rotation; stewardship of the land was one of Gus’s true passions.
Gus was a member of many community organizations including 4-H, the Drumheller Health Board, and he even endured a stint in politics, running for the Social Credit party in 1993. More recently, Gus strongly supported the Gideons, who share God’s Word in the Bible so that all may hear of God’s love for them and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Horses were never far from the barn, and few weeks went by without Gus’s saddle getting a workout. Gus trained many horses, and enjoyed setting up a gymkhana ring to practice for horse shows.
In addition, Wilderness Ranch Camp in Claresholm was a special place for Gus and the family who spent many summers on horseback in the foothills of the Rockies. Only a broken hip kept Gus from regular horseback riding and he was delighted to return to the saddle upon his recovery.
Gus’s love of music was known by anyone who sat near him in church, the Scapa Christmas Concert or spontaneous singing at home. Many nights at home were spent tinkering on the piano, “experimenting” with a guitar, or convincing the kids to sing along.
Gus’s biggest love was for Jesus, who paid the price for his sin, gave him a blameless life by dying in his place on the cross, and who is able therefore to welcome Gus into the amazing splendour of heaven where no tears will fall, no evil will exist and where death is conquered for all eternity.
Because of his faith in these truths, Gus joyfully served God through all of his life’s pursuits and passions and we his family know that he would wish for all those he ever met to know the peace and love of Jesus too.
A private family graveside service was held on Mon., Oct. 5, 2015, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery, Scapa, AB with Pastor Grant Sikstrom officiating.
Following the interment, a Memorial Service and Open House was held at the
Scapa Community Hall, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Memorial tributes may be made directly to the: Gideons International in Canada. P.O. Box 3619, Guelph, ON N1H 7A2.
Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Hanna was entrusted with Interment arrangements. 403-854-2758, www.heartlandfuneralservices.com
